Food DiveThirty percent of survey respondents shop at dollar stores more often today than they did one year ago, according to research by Ripple Street sent to Food Dive by email.
Nearly 80 percent spend $11 to $50 every time they visit a dollar store. READ MORE

USAgNet.comAgriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue acknowledged that the U.S.-China tit-for-tat tariff standoff may force Capitol Hill lawmakers to factor in trade disruptions as they work on the next farm bill.
As Perdue's third RV tour as secretary brought him to Ohio, China announced that dozens of farm products — including soybeans and beef — stand to face 25-percent tariffs if the U.S follows through with 25-percent duties of its own on hundreds of Chinese goods in the Trump administration's effort to force Beijing to change its intellectual property practices.
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Food DiveDutch researchers have found that adding even a small amount of seaweed to a food product makes consumers more likely to buy it.
The online study of 600 consumers found they were more likely to buy wraps that contained seaweed, but were just as interested in those that contained 5 percent seaweed as they were in options with 50 percent or 100 percent seaweed.READ MORE

MarketWatchAmerican's deep affection for their pets is spurring a wave of mergers and acquisitions in which companies that specialize in food for humans are adding pet food and pet-care brands to their portfolios.
J.M. Smucker Co.'s SJM acquisition of Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, a premium pet food company best known for the Rachael Ray Nutrish line, is the latest in a string of recent purchases in the pet-care space. READ MORE

Progressive GrocerEarth Fare has launched the Handpicked, Discovered by Earth Fare brand, which is featured in the second edition of its in-store magazine, The Clean Plate. The specially curated line of globally inspired products with sophisticated flavor profiles adheres to the natural food grocer's stringent food philosophy.
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Refrigerated & Frozen FoodsMaple Leaf Farms, Leesburg, Ind., introduced All Natural Duck Meatballs for foodservice professionals. This fresh take on an old favorite features rich duck breast meat, cheddar cheese and chili pepper spices.
Oven roasted for convenience, the Duck Meatballs are an easy heat-and-serve option for chefs and caterers as an appetizer or as an addition to soups, sandwiches and pasta. READ MORE

Food DiveU.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, has asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to look into whether cell-cultured food products have, or require, a specific regulatory framework and how other countries are handling the issue.
DeLauro's letter, dated March 28, noted while cell-cultured meat, animal-free dairy milk and other products aren't yet commercially available, introducing them into the nation's food supply and economy "raises many important questions."READ MORE